My CBN grinding wheel comparison - Diamond Corp vs Baltic Abrasives

[John Lyngdal]

My first CBN wheel was manufactured by Diamond Corporation and from the get-go I had issues. The major issue was the cutting speed of the wheel, which was painfully slow and prone to burning the cutter. The ground area was almost a mirror finish, but that finish wasn't even close to offsetting the cutting speed. And yes, I tried using the dressing stone to see if that improved the cutting speed. In short it did not. I pulled this wheel off my grinder and switched back to a Stihl rock wheel.

In another grinding discussion there were positive comments about CBN wheels manufactured by Baltic Abrasives Technologies. Burned once, I still opted to purchase a Baltic Abrasives wheel from their storefront in Lithuania. I placed the order on 2/28 and the wheel arrived today 3/14. I immediately installed the wheel on my Stihl USG and the happy sparks flew as I ground 6 long loops of 3/8" chain.
I don't think the grinding speed is as fast as the rock wheel, but it's close, with the added advantage of never needing to reshape the cutting surface.

Of the two CBN wheels I own, the Diamond Corporation wheel is a dog and was a waste of money, while the Baltic Abrasives wheel is everything I was looking for in a CBN chain grinding wheel.

 

[Mike Kunte]

My first CBN wheel was manufactured by Diamond Corporation and from the get-go I had issues. The major issue was the cutting speed of the wheel, which was painfully slow and prone to burning the cutter. The ground area was almost a mirror finish, but that finish wasn't even close to offsetting the cutting speed. And yes, I tried using the dressing stone to see if that improved the cutting speed. In short it did not. I pulled this wheel off my grinder and switched back to a Stihl rock wheel.

In another grinding discussion there were positive comments about CBN wheels manufactured by Baltic Abrasives Technologies. Burned once, I still opted to purchase a Baltic Abrasives wheel from their storefront in Lithuania. I placed the order on 2/28 and the wheel arrived today 3/14. I immediately installed the wheel on my Stihl USG and the happy sparks flew as I ground 6 long loops of 3/8" chain.
I don't think the grinding speed is as fast as the rock wheel, but it's close, with the added advantage of never needing to reshape the cutting surface.

Of the two CBN wheels I own, the Diamond Corporation wheel is a dog and was a waste of money, while the Baltic Abrasives wheel is everything I was looking for in a CBN chain grinding wheel.

Hey John!

I had a similar experience with mine, although my first CBN wheel was a "Diamond Abrasives" brand, and did not cut as badly as you have described yours. However, I also noticed that the Baltic Abrasives wheel cuts a lot quicker and cleaner! Highly recommended!

My 2c

Mike

 

[RMB]

Hello, I don't often post here however I wanted to give an update on where to purchase the CBN Wheels mentioned. If you live here in the US we don't have to order overseas just go to eBay or click on the link below.

https://www.ebay.com/str/balticabrasivetechnologies/5-3-4-diameter-wheels/_i.html?store_cat=36218840016​

https://www.ebay.com/str/balticabrasivetechnologies
-Robert

 

[old guy]

I smell operater error, How do you slow down a wheel? are you taking .030 per cut? I would concider .006 a heavy cut, with just a quick tap.
I do have a diamond brand cbn wheel, it never slows down, neither do my pink ones.

 

[John Lyngdal]

I smell operater error, How do you slow down a wheel? are you taking .030 per cut? I would concider .006 a heavy cut, with just a quick tap.
I do have a diamond brand cbn wheel, it never slows down, neither do my pink ones.

I said" The major issue was the cutting speed of the wheel, which was painfully slow and prone to burning the cutter."
This doesn't mean that that the rotational speed of the wheel decreased, the cutting speed refers to how quickly the wheel removed material from the cutter.

 

[Engineeringnerd]

The wheel was described as from "Diamond Corporation". Did you mean "Diamond Wheel Inc."? I have a Diamond Wheel Inc wheel I purchased years ago and stopped using due to burning and big burrs. Curious if we are talking about the same company.

 

[John Lyngdal]

The wheel was described as from "Diamond Corporation". Did you mean "Diamond Wheel Inc."? I have a Diamond Wheel Inc wheel I purchased years ago and stopped using due to burning and big burrs. Curious if we are talking about the same company.

Same manufacturer and the same issues.

 

[Colonel428]

I've had one of the Baltic Abrasives wheels for almost a year now. Love it and will buy another when this one is done. Highly recommended.

 

[Rooshooter]

I have been using CBN wheels for about 2 years now, some are good some are sh*t.
The first one I purchased was through Amazon ( resin bond ) and cost me around $100 AUD, it did around 9000 cutters before it started to wear.

I then decided to go direct to manufacturers in China and get samples for testing ( You have to pay for the samples )
First samples from Bluesky Trading, ( resin bond 180 grit 4.7mm ) these perform reasonably well and are quick to remove material from the cutters, but they do wear after 7.500 ~ 9000 cutters on 3/8std and .404 chain.

The second lot I got from Zhengzhou Ruizuan Diamond Tool Co., Ltd ( 180 grit electroplated CBN ) performance drop off on the 4.8mm wheel was around 5500 cutters 3/8 Std and.404 it has slowed down but not burning, and I also got a 3.2mm 180 grit, it is still going ok after 3100 cutters.

Third lot purchased from Zhengzhou Bosdi Abrasives Co., Ltd, These were electroplated CBN 180 grit and went off the cut reasonably quick, I was told there were two grades of the CBN material and I got the crap one.

Fourth lot purchased from Zhengzhou Bosdi Abrasives Co., Ltd Resin bond 4.9mm x 150mm 150 grit, This wheel had the better CBN material, however they fu**ed it up with the wheels not being profiled correctly and material coating on the wheels very thin and they vibrated.

To sum it up the Ruizan Diamond brand have been the best so far, But I would like to try these in Resin bond as they are supposed to perform better & last longer.
BTW I sharpen up to abt 80 chains a week on Oregon 511 & 522 grinders